Comparison of High-dose Rosuvastatin Versus Low-dose Rosuvastatin Plus Ezetimibe on Carotid Plaque Inflammation in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome

Combination therapy of ezetimibe with a low-dose statin is occasionally used to avoid statin-related side effects in clinical practice among patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This approach is equivalent to high-dose statin therapy to decrease LDL cholesterol level by \>50%, allowing such patients to achieve LDL cholesterol target. However, it remains uncertain whether combination therapy with ezetimibe and low-dose statin verse high-dose statin monotherapy similarily suppress atherosclerotic plaque inflammation. This study is to compare high-dose rosuvastatin versus low-dose rosuvastatin plus ezetimibe on carotid plaque inflammation in patients with acute coronary syndrome using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging.